Change of "Locations," New Blessings

Circumstances in my life this past year or so have been due to divinely-ordained changes of "location" in my vocation, church, and family.

The Lord changes our "location" to a new home church. He led us to much-needed improvements in our family life and business. I was also able to spend more time honing my writing craft, develop creative skills in web design, and learn much about the www. Another interesting change of "location" is my newly emerging RGSMC and URRDC outreach ministry work that get me excited.

In the midst of these changes where previous securities slip away, things that are newer and better begin to emerge. While I may grieve over what was lost or the trials that were involved in the changes, I can rejoice in the new doors being opened and in the new blessings I'm discovering while I await upon the Lord.

Henri Nouwen's Suggestion

I like what Henri Nouwen once wrote. He suggests that "setting our hearts on something involves not only serious aspiration, but also strong determination." It does involve not only prayerful consideration, but also purposeful action.

That's how faith is made practical. You still walk in that which is a vague shadow or which is not yet clear.

Back to Basics

This June, I'm back to basics. I'm finally entering ENLI.

With my earned doctorate, I can expect too much of myself. Progress and discipline were clearly measurable when I was in the seminary for many years. I finished courses, assignments, projects. I was mentored and given academic recognition by professors/graduates from University of the Philippines, Fuller Theological Seminary, University of Southern California, among others.

I could somehow think that my formal academic achievement should follow with spiritual service in the local church. I could get inclined to expect to get more responsibility and recognition and receive greater renumeration. After all, I got "quantified credentials."

I'm glad I'm not making that grave mistake. For in the spiritual life and pastoral ministry, progress sometimes means going back. Maturity involves being "childlike." Growing means humility. I can say that the spiritual life operates on a different wisdom that is not quite the same as that found in formal academic training. The "rules" are simply different.

I'm letting go. I come from what is given in harmony with God's wisdom, not what is expected.

"Makarios" or "Eutuches"?

Are you happy? Of what kind is your happiness?

Interestingly, the Bible (much of which was written in Greek) never uses the Greek word "eutuches" when referring to happiness. "Eutuches" means "fleeting earthly happiness." It's a kind of happiness which is mostly on the outside and dependent on external circumstances.

Every biblical reference to happiness is the Greek word "makarios." It refers to happiness which goes beyond circumstances. It is deep down happiness which does not depend on externals.

"Makarios" is the happiness that Jesus offers ... happiness even during times of testing and trials. He gives a joy that transcends external circumstances.

Gary V, relevant music art

Want to know my favorite music? It's Gary V's. He's "relevant, connected with the times," as he put it in his site.

Click here and this to hear my most favorite songs from Gary V.

Check out his web, www.garyv.com, and you can listen to more of his music and words online free! Enjoy and be encouraged!

Evening with Rice Broocks

11:00 p.m. I just arrived home. Together with businessmen and some pastors, I was feted to a nice dinner with and Word from Pastor Rice Broocks at the jam-packed Victory the Fort.

Three reasons why I attended the affair. First, I wished to see and hear the author of the book, "Every Nation In Our Generation," that impacted me a lot this past year. I read the book from cover to cover. It revolutionized my thinking about ministry, which led to my "paradigm shift" from seminary-based to church-based discipleship.



I recommend that you read this book if you desire to grow deeper in your knowledge of God's heart for the nations and His will for your life.

Second, Pastor Broocks is a "half" of the story of Victory church. Pastor Steve Murrel, of course, is the other "half." That's interest-triggering as far as I'm concerned.

And thirdly, my dear friend and brethren, Marsel Meneses, had personally invited me and decided to pay for my "damage." I didn't want to waste his investment, so I came. Good stewardship plus friendship.

Pastor Broocks (www.ricebroocks.com) has served as pastor for 30 years now. He's a good role model for pastors. When pastor Steve once was "without affiliation," "without a local church," and "without accountability," it was pastor Broocks who encouraged and mentored him (see pastor Steve's recent blog at www.stevemurrell.com). A case of a pastor "saving" another pastor.



This Broocks-Murrel friendship I believe can partly explain the success story behind Victory's tremendous blessing from God and progress in the Gospel over the years. I praise God for seeing their example.

Welcoming Correction

My morning devotion today is on Proverbs 9. It puts a high premium on a willingness to see one’s error and admit it. It describes a wise man as one who wants to learn from his mistakes. When challenged, he resists to be threatened by the correction. Instead, correction becomes a faithful friend and a necessary means to improvement (v.9).

On the other hand, when a “scoffer” is rebuked, he responds with anger and hate (v.8). Because of his overinflated ego, he won’t listen when told he has erred.

A few days ago, I personally apologized to my wife and kids for a thing I did one evening. I hope it's a lesson fully grasped by our kids.

God's wisdom is to realize that at times we too have played the fool.

Medicine for People's Sicknesses

This week, I got hurt. Our three kids just spent about two days in a relative's place. Then, during the time I was already fetching them on a Sunday, it happened.

This relative came in. While I was fixing the shoes of my little baby Angel, she begun criticizing and badmouthing my wife and kids in front of me as if she owns us! Terrible. This woman relative is known to have this habit and a propensity to assume rights for herself that she does not have.

I praise God I did not blow my top during that moment. I was able to answer as softly as I can though with meaningful words. Later, while meeting with my wife, another relative expressed partiality (instead of apology)on behalf of this woman relative.

At home, while sharing with my wife, I found myself getting irritable and grumpy inside because of the mistreatment we received. Though I did not show negative reaction to these relatives face-to-face, I discovered how I was not feeling love towards them in private.

Famous author Dr. Karl Menninger once wrote, "Love is the medicine for the sickness of the world." He explained that, when people learn to give and receive love, they recover from most of their illnesses, whether physical or emotional.

Emotional illness then, for example, results from a lack of love. When one experiences a barrier between one's self and another person, psychological and emotional sickness may do result. Simple love and honesty can bring healing.

Love is God's greatest medicine. Above human love, God's love is deeper and much more lasting. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). This is how we know what love is. Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.

I'm reminded again of this divine love in relation to that sad incident with my relatives. Instead of "reacting" to her (a private natural that happened), the Lord is showing me again how I should be different. How I should be acting and moving through it.

When I feel I am so loved by Him, then I can find the things that are irritating in my family relatives or other people trivial. God's love motivates me to change my attitudes and behavior accordingly. I am able to love others, no matter what they do to me, because Christ's love and forgiveness overpower me.

By faith, I renew a prayer and hope for me to be a link between Christ's love and another person in need of this medicine of divine love. It doesn't matter how I feel towards the other person. What's important is to obey Him to exercise my will (with His help) to let go of resentment and to allow His love to come through me.

What an adventure in life!

Morning Feeding

Another beautiful morning. Writing means I hunger. Reading the Bible and praying also means I hunger. I hunger for food and understanding. Morning feeding to start the day.

On the Matter of Sibling Rivalry

"Sibling rivalry" is one of humanity's oldest problems. By "sibling rivalry," we mean the antagonism and hostility that brothers and/or sisters experience towards each other. It usually manifests itself in behavior and circumstances.

When I was growing up as a kid, this was an unfortunate situation. Among my one brother and three sisters, we caught ourselves "competing" for the scarce resources of love, attention, approval, and provisions of our parents. It was a most difficult and frustrating life-period.

If we read the Bible, we can easily realize that this is not a new problem. One of the first stories in the Bible deals with the rivalry between two brothers, Cain and Abel. The older brother, Cain, was irritated at constantly having to help take care of his younger brother, Abel, and kept asking his parents: "Am I my brother's keeper?"

The story of these two brothers has a tragic ending; Cain becomes so angry that he kills Abel (and this, according to the Bible, was the first murder in history). The fact that this is one of the first stories within the Bible shows the great importance given to the problem of sibling rivalry.

I'm very concerned with the possible occurence of this within my own family. My wife Imelda and I try our best to teach our children God's values, such as "love one another as brothers," and the idea of "pure, unselfish love." Yet, the fruit we wish for them would not come forth "by itself." The problem continues to unfold among my children - Christine, Angel, and Paul!

How do my wife and I deal with this? A major part of the problem that happened to me and my brother and sisters was a feeling that my parents were demonstrating a special "preference" or "favoritism" for one of us. Damage occured especially when we siblings had somehow become strongly aware of it.

Parents giving preferential treatment to one of their children is one of the most toxic attitudes they can do to damage the children. This attitude actively causes the development of rivalry among children. With that, each child has nagging suspicions that his parents love another one of his brothers or sisters more than they love him.

In light of this, my deepest prayers go to my wife and I as well as our children. We pray for God's strength, patience, and wisdom in the proper rearing of our children. We hope to spare our kids from the damage of this "natural" phenomenon.

We pray that we'll be able to teach and be an example to our children of the most important values one can have in life. These include a lifelong brotherly love of each other, spiritual growth and maturity, and a loathing for any form of abuse.

It Takes Two to Tango

Everyone knows the cliche: "It takes two to tango." As soon as two agree to do something, a relationship is established, whether for good or for bad. You remove one, there's no dance.

The other night, Imelda and I enjoyed an outdoor birthday party of her cousin beside the swimming pool in posh Emerald Mansions, Ortigas. Times have changed for Imelda and her cousins there, all from the same province. My eyes lighted up for they enjoyed each other a lot.

I did pray silently for all. It was, after all, the best thing I can do that night (besides eating!). But there was one young unmarried couple there who was living in. Their "tango" is surely very obvious to any discerning person. I prayed that God would drop by their room one of these days. I really hoped for their best together.

There's another kind of "tango" we discovered that night. Imelda and I hope it will prosper. It's a business "tango." Not the self destructive type, but wisdom and blessing from God. It's not a harmful "tango", that's the big difference.

How about you? Would you like to dance the "tango?" Just make sure you choose the right one.

Thorn Advantage

I have a thorn.

Like the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthians, I ask God to remove it from me. But it remains there. Again, like Paul, I'd ask "Why?"

This thorn in me. If I'll list the trials and testings I had in me and my family and ministries, you might say I should stop serving God and teaching His Word.

I can't believe how much it has taken me this long. I've studied the Bible for many years and taught it in both church and seminary. But it's only now that I'm able to fully grasp the Lord's response to the Apostle Paul's thorn in the flesh.

He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." —2 Corinthians 12:9

It's a pride antidote. The thorn lets me recognize always how much I need God. As I do, it strengthens me. It teaches me to trust God more. It makes me a better Bible teacher even when going through tough times.

That's the thorn advantage.

Private Suffering and Greatness

Private suffering and greatness. Is there a connection?

Stephen Mansfield thinks so. When asked to comment on the common denominator of greatness among famous leaders. Here is his answer:

"'suffering and the imprint that suffering leaves on the soul.'

Most of the great men and women of history were great because they offered to the world lessons of inspiration, wisdom and character that they learned in private battles. That's the lesson to learn.

Check out Stephen Mansfield's latest blog on the role that suffering and weakness play in the life of great leaders.

Jesus, the Entrepreneur and CEO

One time, someone wrote a note to me. He said he hates me because I combine capitalism and religion in my life and writings. I believe I can understand much where he's coming from.

In the Bible, there's no such dichotomy in life. It supports integration between business and spirituality. Among various verses, Colossians 3:17 states, "Whatsoever you do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him." All of life, including business, can be integrated with spirituality and ministry.

The books, "Jesus the Entrepreneur" and "Jesus the CEO," are now two international bestsellers written by Laurie Beth Jones. The books make an embracing case of Jesus as a modern day role model for those seeking to put spiritual life and ministry to practice in the world of business.

The two bestseller books show that there is no contradiction between earning a comfortable living even as you use your business to promote your deepest spiritual and personal beliefs. How? By sharing the timeless wisdom of the Bible to benefit the bottom line of business!

I hope this explains well why I write the way I do. And why I combine business with my spirituality and ministry. It's what keeps me going and finding soul satisfaction in what I do.

Sta. Lucia Mall OT musings

Saturday. Am in the Sta. Lucia mall with my wife and kids. Mulling about an Old Testament passage.

The last verse in the Old Testament was a prophetic promise. It warned that God would turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers. Or else the nation would be damaged. Under a curse.

I don't have to look very far to see the curses happening. It's an inevitable result when fathers' hearts are turned toward self, money, and sports rather than toward their sons and daughters.

Some Philippine statistics, opportunities for change and transformation

I love my country. I wish to be well informed about my country's overall situation. It shocked me to find the following statistics from the government's files. Sort of negatives, but God can redeem and turn them into positives. I'm also challenged to be a positive contribution to my nation's progress in my own small ways with God's help.

Let me quote here a statistics research article about the Philippines:

"Why do millions upon millions of Filipinos leave each year to become caregivers, nurses, construction workers and entertainers in far away lands?

The main reason is poverty.

The National Statistics Office reported that in 2000, poverty incidence affected 19.9 percent of families in urban areas and 46.9 percent in rural areas. Real number of poor families climbed to 5.1 million, 1.5 million of them in urban areas and 3.6 million in rural areas. Some 2.5 million families were living in subsistence level, meaning their income was not enough to buy their basic food requirements. Furthermore, in its 2001 report, the World Bank said 12.7 percent of Filipinos were "poor", a term it assigned to those who lived on less than US$1 a day while 45.9 percent were "near poor" or those who lived on less than US$2 a day.

Although most Filipinos are poor, a lot of them are highly skilled workers and are able to speak, read, write and listen in English, thus making them qualified to the foreign market.

In fact, the country’s top exported product today is no longer rice, sugar, coconut or bananas but Filipinos. Specifically, professional caregivers, nurses, doctors, engineers and other workers in demand all over the world. According to Senator Francisco Pangilinan, the seven million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) worldwide have remitted over US$40 billion to the Philippines from 1991 to 2001. Last year, the overseas remittances of OFWs reached an all-time high in 2005 when it reached $14 billion. Economic analysts are saying that it is this remittance that is keeping the country economically viable. Without these remittances from almost 8 million OFWs, they believe that the country’s economy would collapse.

Although the dollar remittances are good for the economy, the trend of separating family members is damaging the family’s values.

Social welfare experts from both government and private agencies agree that the separation of family members because of overseas jobs has damaged the Filipino’s family values resulting in the following social problems:

Rape

Some 3,145 cases of rape were reported in the country in 2001. This translates to 8 cases of rape each day and one rape incident in every three hours during the year. The figure only covers rape incidents reported to the police. There were also 5,735 murder cases and 4,079 homicide incidents reported in the country in 2001 alone.

Sex Crimes Against Children

According to the Social Welfare and Development, there were a total of 5,185 sex crimes committed against children in the Philippines in 2000, and 3,980 cases in 2001. Sex crimes refer to rape, incest, and acts of lasciviousness.

A Billion Peso Illegal Drug Industry

According to former Interior and Local Government Secretary Joey Lina, the crime syndicates produce and trade P300-billion (approximately $57 Million) worth of illegal drugs in the country annually. The Dangerous Drugs Board also disclosed that some 1.8 million Filipinos are hooked on illegal drugs while 1.6 million others are casual users.

Two Million Drug Users

According to the International Narcotics Control Board, the use of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu has become "the most popular drug of abuse" in the Philippines. The Anti-Narcotics Group of the Philippine National Police disclosed that around 1.8 million of the 80 million Filipinos were regular drug users.The agency also disclosed that about 70 percent of marijuana supply in the world might be coming from the Cordillera region in northern Luzon. It claimed that marijuana fields have been found among the 300,000 hectares of Cordillera farmlands in the past. In 1999, the police conducted 7,956 raids and arrested 11,004 individuals on drug-related cases.


Women Beaten Daily

As of 2002, militant women's group Gabriela said at least 15 women and six children are beaten up daily. In 2001, Gabriela recorded 5,668 cases of wife battering and 2,274 cases of maltreatment of children.

Two-Thirds of Young Workers Had Premarital Sex

A survey conducted by the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) in 2002 showed that 30 percent of the country's young workforce claimed to be sexually active, with 10 percent of the single male respondents claiming to have casual sex. In a separate report, a study conducted by the University of the Philippines Population Institute in the year 2000 showed that 23 percent of 16.5 million Filipinos aged between 15 and 24 have engaged in premarital sex.

400,000 Prostitutes

Despite the fact that prostitution is illegal in the country, women's group Gabriela said that around 400,000 Filipinos were working as prostitutes as of 1998.

100,000 Child Prostitutes

According to the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), about 60,000 to 100,000 Filipino children were working as prostitutes as of 1997. Prostitution was present in 37 provinces then. The major child prostitution dens were found in Manila, Angeles City, Puerto Galera, Davao City and Cebu City. The Philippines has reportedly become a favorite destination of pedophiles from the US, Australia and Europe. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has documented 8,335 cases of child abuse from 1991 to 1996.

400,000 Abortions

A study released by the University of the Philippines Population Institute in February 2003 said that there were 400,000 cases of abortion in the country each year, despite the fact that abortion is illegal here.

Filipina Entertainers

There are around 180,000 Filipino entertainers in Japan sending US$200 million each year. Many of these women were vulnerable to abuse and some driven to prostitution by the Japanese Yakuza gang. Filipino entertainers were eventually called "Japayuki", which was an original concoction made by Japanese media referring to young girls working as prostitutes. The Philippine government allows the deployment of Filipino women as young as 18 years old.

Alcohol, Most Abused Drug

Liquor is said to be the most abused substance in the Philippines and the world. While there remains to be a concrete study on the effects of alcoholism, many index crimes such as homicides, physical injuries and sex-related offenses are often associated with alcohol. Adding to these are the numerous accidents caused by drunk driving. Many Filipino families were also ruined by alcoholism, with young children exposed to the evils of their drunken fathers. Sadly, the government does not do anything about it."

These economic and social problems in the Philippines call for a unique approach in terms of evangelism, Christian discipleship and missions work.

Some Tidbits

My wife has a new craze -- blogging! It seems to fit well with her current fascination with photography.... We look forward to traveling north -- going to Ilocos and Naga Bicol next week. We pray for safety as well as spiritual and personal refreshment .... While tutoring one for a school website a few days ago, I noticed a beautiful painting of a rural Filpino family. I was told it costs P30,000 before but may amount to about P80,000 at this time. I think it should cost more! ..... How can I tell which is from God or enemy? Easy. If it's a negative thought, deed, or word, it's from the enemy. If something brings fear, worry, discouragement, doubt, insecurity etc, I can guarantee it's not from God ..... My cousin Susan is upbeat and inspired again nowadays. His darling is home from Libya.

Dan Brown's "Da Vinci Code" movie and book

While others are threatened, I feel excited about this upcoming controversial movie, "Da Vinci Code," starring Tom Hanks, based on Dan Brown's novel. There will be increasing opportunities to discuss about the Lord Jesus and His truths with this.

The book and the movie is a work of imagination. It's fiction. So, I wonder why all these fuss and noise in the media all around the world? Well, if you know showbiz, you'll know why.

Anyway, for the sake of healthy discussion, let me attempt to make some comments. One of Dan Brown's theses that elicited the most controversy is this: Mary Magdalene was Jesus' wife and the mother of his children. Is that true?

If you go by the Bible, Dan Brown's thesis is false. What does that say then about the movie? However, the false, especially if it's entertaining, is the one that makes money.

It has long been believed that Jesus was single. Every detail of Scripture indicates this. When he was in ministry, there is no mention of a wife. Whenever Jesus' family is referred to, it is his brothers and sisters who are mentioned. But never a wife. Nor is there any indication that he was widowed.

Thus, Brown's attempts to suggest that Mary Magdalene was, in fact, his wife is empty speculation. The apostles, like Peter, and the brothers of the Lord, all of whom, are said to have had wives (1 Corinthians 9:5). This passage shows that the church was not embarrassed to reveal that its leaders were married-or to suggest that they had the right to be.

The same would have been true of Jesus, if he had been married.

The example of the call to be 'eunuchs for the kingdom' appears, in part, to be rooted in Jesus' own commitment and example not to be married (Matthew 19:10-12). In fact, the rationale for the Roman church's later view that priests should not be married partially stems from the view that Jesus was not married.

So if we ask what the hard evidence is that Jesus was married, there really is a very short answer. There is none.

Jesus' marital status was one dimension of his dedication to His call to save mankind. I'm thinking, as Jesus faced much suffering and crucifixion, it was of benefit that he did not have a wife or children. These were likely some of the concerns the apostle Paul alluded to in speaking of "worry for earthly things" in his epistle.

In the Philippines, fiction sells a lot. Filipinos are by nature lovers of fantasy. Dan Brown's "Da Vinci Code" movie promises to be one of those imaginative box office events in the Philippines (and all over the world) of all time.

Get RBC's free booklet, "Da Vinci Code: Separating Fact from Fiction" and other helpful studies on the Da Vinci Code here.

Article, "Art, Idolatry, and God's Glory"

Yesterday, my wife Imelda and I were having some late-night talks on "art and idolatry." It's an interesting topic. Many years ago, as a baby Christian, I hated "idolatry" so much that I destroyed some art works in our house. That got me and my testimony into trouble with my parents and siblings!

Idolatry, in Christian theology, is "the worship of a created object" rather than the true God. The term "idol" often refers to tangible objects that are worshipped, such as the golden calf in Moses' time. It may also refer to conceptual constructs such as fame, money, nationality, ethnicity or people's emotional understanding.

Throughout the years, the arts have always received much attention. Michaelangelo became famous with his representational and symbolic paintings of the Christ and other religious figures. Just recently, Mel Gibson released his highly acclaimed artistic film, "The Passion of Christ." That caused quite a stir all over the world.

Should we appreciate, support, or encourage participation in the arts as followers of Christ?

The Word of God gives us clear guidance about this matter. In the second commandment God said:

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that
is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water
under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them, for I the LORD
your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the
children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing
mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments” (Exodus 20:4–
5).

What does God forbid in this commandment?

Can we stop at verse 4, as some have done, and condemn the fashioning of all images? Obviously not. I say this because God Himself had the cherubim carved at the ends of the mercy seat on the Ark (a likeness of something in heaven above).

The force of the commandment is in verse 5. We are not to bow down to idols or serve them. God reveals that He cannot and will not be worshipped through carved images. He is Spirit and will not be represented by physical shapes. God will not allow His people to direct their love and trust for Him to some lifeless creation of men’s hands.

In Exodus 32 Israel violated God’s Law by breaking this commandment. They fashioned a carved image of a golden calf to represent God in their worship. In 1 Samuel 4 they committed a similar sin, trusting in the presence of the Ark (which they could see with their eyes) rather than God Himself (whom they could only see by faith).

They fell into sin because they were not content to follow and worship a God they could not see or touch. God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:24). Israel rejected the spiritual nature of God and sought through art to give Him a physical shape or image.

Where art turns its back on God, it should be abandoned. Where art is used as a means to distract people away from those things that are pleasing to God, it should be forsaken. We must embrace art only as it serves to help us embrace God.

At the same time, we must also remember that art is created by God. Art is a good gift from God, intended for us to enjoy as we use it in ways that bring God glory.

I think a problem of discernment can develop when art becomes the occasion for sin. We can be too quick to condemn "the gift rather than the sin." We may begin to condemn a painting, a photo or image, a sculpture, or a song as evil. But the question is, "Can the painting on a canvas, or a lump of clay, or photographs/images, or musical sounds actually be sin?"

Consider the incident of the golden calf in Exodus 32. This event obviously involved sin and shows us the potential for sin in art. But where was the sin located? Was the subject matter, the "golden calf," sinful? No. A calf is something God created as good.

Is the medium used sinful? No. Gold and other precious metals are also created by God as good. Is the making of a carved image (creating representational sculpture) sin? No. God commanded much representational sculpture be made, even in the Tabernacle and Temple where He was to be worshipped.

The object of art itself is not necessarily evil. Nor is the making of art evil. When art goes astray and becomes an occasion for sin, the problem is not so much with the subject matter or artistic form. The real problem is with our hearts. The sin is in us.

We have a tendency, however, to disassociate sin with ourselves. It is much easier to locate the evil in the image or object. We can smash the image and be done with it. But that will not remove the sin. Sin is not a matter of objects or things. Sin is a matter of the heart that becomes manifest in how we use or misuse objects and things. Art is not sin. But it can readily reflect and give expression to sin in our hearts.

God looks upon our hearts, not exclusively at the forms of an object. He weighs the intentions of our heart in judging good or evil. What are we trying to reveal about the art form? What meanings are we trying to convey? Is our meaning trying to communicate godly values and truths? God looks upon our hearts as we participate in the arts. What are our intentions and motives and loves revealed in the art in which we choose to invest our time and energy?

When I, as a young Christian many years ago, smashed those art forms in our family home, I thought they were evil and idols themselves. I had wrongly believed these objects were sin themselves. I missed God's greatest concern is located in our hearts. It was a lesson of spiritual discernment.

Article, "The Question of Foundation"

In 1174 the Italian architect Bonnano Pisano, began work on a separately standing eight-story bell tower. It's called the Tower of Pisa. The tower was to be 8-stories and 185-foot tall.

There was just one "little" problem. The builders quickly discovered that the soil was much softer than they had expected. The foundation was far too shallow to adequately hold the Tower of Pisa structure!

Sure enough, before long, the whole Tower of Pisa, had begun to tilt... and it continued to tilt. Then finally, the builders realized that nothing could be done to make the Leaning Tower of Pisa straight again.

It took 176 years to build the Tower of Pisa. And during that time, many things were done to try and compensate for the "tilt." The foundation was shored up. The upper levels were even built at an angle to try to make the top of the tower look straight. Nothing worked.

The tower has stood for over 800 years, but it leans 18 feet away from where it should be (10 degrees from the vertical, for all the engineers). One day, experts predicted it will fall inevitably all because it wasn’t built on the right foundation.

Jesus told a story about the importance of a solid foundation in Matthew 7. In this story, Jesus used three very common images: a house, a rock, and some sand.

“Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds beat against that house, but it did not collapse because it had been founded on rock. Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds beat against that house, and it collapsed; it was utterly destroyed!” (Matthew 7: 24-27)

I find The Message version of the text an interesting one: “These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit – but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.”

Look at Luke 6:47-49 which says the same, “Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and puts them into practice—I will show you what he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep, and laid the foundation on bedrock. When a flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the person who hears and does not put my words into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against that house, it collapsed immediately, and was utterly destroyed!”

The people that Jesus was talking to often experienced sudden downpours during the rainy season in ancient Palestine. There would be violent streams in just a few moments of time after a heavy rain. According to Jesus’ story, when you combine these torrential rains and raging streams with weakly built housing sitting on shifting foundation such as sand, you have a disaster on your hands.

This is a parable about foundations, not avoiding the weather. When the pressure intensifies from all angles, the outcome is determined by the foundation we’re sitting on. Jesus helped the people to understand that God was not always going to be there to stop the rains, the flooding, and the tornadoes from invading our lives.

Nevertheless, Jesus expected us to be smart about life. He wants us to be careful about the priorities that we build our lives on. He urges us to be cautious about who we listen to and what philosophy of life we chose to live by. This is so because a wrong decision in these foundational areas would prove to be our undoing when the pressures and forces of life begin to mount.

Thus the idea of a foundation is so critical. One of the things that a lot of building contractors want to stay away from is digging out and pouring their own foundations. They would rather have a specialist come in and do it for them. Why? If you mess up the foundation, you’ve compromised the entire structure.

Building your life on anything other than what Jesus taught is to “mess-up” the foundation. It is to allow fault lines and cracks to form at pressure points of life. Just like every solid building has a foundation, every life has a foundation on which it is built. What does your foundation consists of? That’s Jesus’ point.

There are two people in Jesus’ closing story. Both hear his words, but only one acts on them. A person who hears Jesus’ words and puts them into practice is like a wise builder who builds with the right materials in the right location at the right time. Those who choose other ways are sand builders. And there are different kinds of sand.

First there is the shifting sand of worldliness, materialism, pseudo-prophecies, false teachings, the compromising trends of our times.

Second, there is the shallow sand of TV. Young people, watching and learning about life from MTV is sand! Don’t build on that. Watching and listening to Madonna or Michael Jackson is sand! Don’t build on that.

Then there is the quicksand of self-righteousness. Seeking an organized religion as your faith rather than the teachings of Jesus is sand. Don’t build on that. People have tried and pulled up empty every time. Endeavoring to live a sinless life, as your ticket to heaven is sand. Don’t build on that.

Instead of murder and hate, build your life on forgiveness. Instead of revenge and getting even, build your life on reconciliation. Instead of being consumed by pornography and lust, build your life on respect and honoring. Instead of ending your marriage for non-Biblical reasons and splitting up the family, build your life on faithfulness and love. Instead of being evasive and deceptive, be forth telling with the truth.

Instead of hating your enemies, build your life on prayer for them. Instead of just being outwardly religious, build your life on secret acts of kindness and worship. Instead of worrying your way through life, build your life on a firm trust in the caring hand of God.

Build your life on the foundation of Jesus.

PERSONAL FAITH MISSION PARTNERSHIP COMMITMENT FOR THE MINISTRIES OF ANGELO SUBIDA

ANGELO SUBIDA
MISSION PARTNERSHIP COMMITMENT
http://www.lifebibleschool.com
http://subidaclinic.blogspot.com
http://angelosubida.blogspot.com

I, (YOUR NAME), PLEDGE TO GOD TO BE A FAITH AND MISSION PARTNER OF THE MINISTRIES OF ANGELO SUBIDA.

Yes, with God's enablement and blessing, I wish to send the following faith mission gifts for the missionary works of Angelo Subida:

____ Regular Monthly support gift
___ $ 50
___ $ 100
___ $ 300
___ $ 500
___ $ 1000
___ $ Other amounts, specify: ______

____ One Time Gift
Amount, specify: ____________

____ Gifts in Kind:
___ Computer/s
___ Cellfones
___ Mission House furnitures/appliances
___ Others, specify: ______________


HOW TO SEND YOUR FAITH MISSION GIFTS TO THE MINISTRIES OF ANGELO SUBIDA:

* Please email angelosubida@gmail.com for notice of the exact details of faith mission supports/gifts you've sent. Thanks!

1.) Bank Deposits



Banco De Oro (For Philippine partners)
Account Name: Angelo O. Subida
S.A. No.: 0040496066

For NON-PHILIPPINE SENDING PARTNERS:
If you are sending support/gifts from another country (e.g. USA, Korea etc.) to Philippines, please furnish the following data to your remitting bank or agency:

Banco De Oro (Philippines)
Account Name: Angelo O. Subida
S.A. No.: 0040496066 (SWIFT CODE: BNOR PHMM)
(Note: Don't forget to indicate SWIFT CODE to
remitting agency to facilitate process
of foreign currency conversion)

Address of Philippine Bank: BDO SM Makati branch: 9:30-6:30 PM - Mon - Sun Shoemart Annex Bldg., Ayala Center, Makati City; Tel No. 892-2182/893-3241;Fax: 818-0855)

2.) Send Funds Online



Through XOOM.



Through Western Union.

3.) Send Gifts/Blessings in Kind



Through Filgifts.

Christine's summer jottings

Summer is rest time for kids and also our family. I have enjoyable summer activities. My summer is a nice time for me. Well, my family and I have a house swimming spot. It is a good time for us to enjoy. Our family also goes to Galleria to church in victory. We also go to market as a family. We brother and sisters help our parents to carry some things. Is it fun? Yes! It is also a way to bind us more together in closeness as a family. I also have time to play with my neighbours,play computer, watch t.v. Our family also has regular evening family bible devotions and we talk together about ourselves and what we do. I'm happy we spend our summer together as a family.
(Christine Bernadette Subida)

Teardrops flow during a theatre play

I was moved a few hours ago by a Makati-held theatre play, "Alibugha." It's a Filipino version of the biblical story of the Prodigal Son. Some teardrops flowed, including my wife's. Well, a bit of mine too! I looked up at the others in the audience. I could see how the stage play did minister to them. Throughout the play, I was reminded of the love of my Father in heaven for me. I sensed God speaking in a new way to my heart.
------
Buffet dinner. We had it after the play in an open air inaugural function held in Paranaque. Got to meet some nice biz friends of Imelda, such as Briggs etc. But there was this woman who seems to like to notice me or ask "why's your family with you?" when she sees Imelda with us. Is she "anti-husband" or "anti-family" or something? Excuse my bluntness, but I'm inclined to wonder about how she is treating or doing with her own husband and children. Words we say may do reflect what's truly inside our hearts. Well, she might have problems, but that doesn't keep me or us from praying to God for her.

personal

Angelo Subida:

Mobile: 09063222710

BDO S.A. No. 0040496066 (Banco de Oro SM Makati) / swift code: BNOR PHMM

601853-904-2119432 (BDO cash card)

Passport: QQ 0516753 (June 15, 2005 - June 15, 2010)

SSS No.: 0355174788

TIN No.: 183-162-045

Pag-ibig No.:

LTO No.: NO1-91-127439 (expires: dec 6, 2008)

Philhealth No.: 19-089950799-5

DXN: 4916524 (DXN code) / sponsor: Hazel Vasquez, 4306583)

Postal Address: P.O. Box 14039 Ortigas Center Post Office, 1605, PAsig City, Metro Manila, Philippines

In case of emergency, contact Ed Pilapil Jr. / Janet Pilapil
Tel. Nos.
Mobile:
Rm 1920, AIC Condominium, Ortigas Center, Manila Phils.

Your Destiny Is In Your Hand

You should hear this story:

There once was a wise man that was known throughout the land for his wisdom. One day a young boy wanted to test him to prove that the wise man was a fake. He thought to himself, "I will bring one live bird to test the old man. I will hold the bird behind my back, and I will ask him whether the bird in my hand is dead or alive. If he says that it is alive, I will squeeze hard to kill the bird to prove that he is wrong. On the other hand if he says that it is dead, I will let the bird fly off, proving that he is wrong."

With that idea in mind, he approached the wise man and asked, "Oh wise man, I have a bird in my hand. Can you tell me if the bird is dead or alive?" The wise man paused for a moment and replied, "Young man, you indeed have a lot to learn. That which you hold in your hand, it is what you make of it. The life of the bird is in your hand. If you wish it to be dead, then it will die. On the other hand, if you desire it to live, it will surely live."

The story can be related to you and I. Dreams are very fragile, just like the little bird. It is our own decision if we decide to kill it or allow others to snatch it away from us. It is also our own decision to nourish it and let it grow.

Which one is your choice in regard to your dreams?

Bible Thoughts, Psalm 116:, 1, 2: Facing Our True Self

"I love the Lord because He hears and answers my prayers. Because He bends down and listens ..."

All of us have blind spots. As a result, we miss knowing our true self. It occurs when our way of looking inward has been less than helpful.

This experience of looking inward when you have blind spots drives you into guilt and frustration. You escape, and fail to evaluate correctly your own part of the difficulties. Thus, instead of nourishment, you find impoverishment.

To face or recover your true self is not simply to glance inward. You need to be empowered from above. It is in looking upward that you're able to look honestly and realistically with yourself.

Such brings confession and repentance. You're back to God. Only then can you really see your true self.